Beyond Artemis 2: NASA pursuing a 'more achievable' path back to the moon

Astronauts in bulky space suits walk on a dusty grey surface among glass-domed habitats under a black starless sky.

As NASA prepares to send astronauts to the moon for the first time in more than half a century, the agency is revising its long-term plans for Earth's natural satellite.

Speaking at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference on Monday (March 16), NASA Associate Administrator Amit Kshatriya said that Artemis 2 remains on track for an April 1 launch. If successful, the mission will send astronauts farther from Earth than humans have ever traveled before, surpassing the distance record set by Apollo 13 in 1970.